Well, my Disney trip this past weekend wasn't all wonderful photo opportunities! I consider myself lucky to have made it through 4 days without a drop of rain in the Florida summer season. But on Monday, my final night, I took advantage of Animal Kingdom's late Magic Hours and went from 7pm to 11pm. I could see what looked like stormy skies approaching, but other than my camera, I don't mind the wetness (and I had brought a bag to protect the camera in emergencies).
Upon arrival, I managed to jump on line for the last few Kilimanjaro Safari trucks, which only run until 7:30pm. While on line, thunder began to rumble closer. Light rain began to fall. Then lightning started to zap within visibility, and I was sure the ride would be closed before I got there. Getting to the final part of the cue, lining up in front of the gates to get on the truck, one bolt of lightning touched down within a few hundred feet with a deafening blast - and some people got off the line immediately. I was willing if Disney was (I'm a Florida boy...I'm used to lightning)...and when the gates opened, I jumped aboard. Yep - they're still going on safari! I was warned it might get a bit wet in the open-sided trucks...but I was game, so off we went.
Here is our driver waiting her turn - you can see the light rain coming down on the windshield:
Just around the hippo pools, it really started to come down, and the skies were dark grey - wonderful conditions for photography! 7:30pm, heavy clouds and dark, and heavy rain! I tried to snap the white pelicans sitting in the rain, by cranking up to ISO800 - but the low light and rain killed any chance at detail:
Making the big turn onto the savannah view, I had to stick with ISO800 and try to shoot through grey-out conditions and heavy rain - the herd animals were herding together under the trees:
By the time we made the giraffes, the skies had opened up fully. This giraffe was fully aware that the ranger was standing nearby, waiting for the last trucks to pass so they could herd the tall beast in for the night, and out of the rain:
All the animals looked very unhappy with the rain...except the elephants, who seemed to be having a grand 'ol time - they had gotten in the water for a swim and some play in the rain:
At the end of the ride, we were caught in traffic waiting for the trucks in front to unload (longer than usual, because as people unloaded from the trucks they didn't want to leave the shelter of the hut and walk out into the rain and lightning!). I wanted to snap a pic of the workers by the other truck unloading platform through the rain, and as usual with Disney employees...when they saw the camera pointing their way, they immediately posed:
Well, they were certainly some of the worst shots I've ever taken on the Kilimanjaro - or in Animal Kingdom in general! But it was a very fun ride, and a fun story to be able to tell...so in the end, I don't mind that the pictures aren't that great. They will always make me remember that day and that ride in an open-sided metal truck through an open field in a raging electrical storm and downpour!
Upon arrival, I managed to jump on line for the last few Kilimanjaro Safari trucks, which only run until 7:30pm. While on line, thunder began to rumble closer. Light rain began to fall. Then lightning started to zap within visibility, and I was sure the ride would be closed before I got there. Getting to the final part of the cue, lining up in front of the gates to get on the truck, one bolt of lightning touched down within a few hundred feet with a deafening blast - and some people got off the line immediately. I was willing if Disney was (I'm a Florida boy...I'm used to lightning)...and when the gates opened, I jumped aboard. Yep - they're still going on safari! I was warned it might get a bit wet in the open-sided trucks...but I was game, so off we went.
Here is our driver waiting her turn - you can see the light rain coming down on the windshield:
Just around the hippo pools, it really started to come down, and the skies were dark grey - wonderful conditions for photography! 7:30pm, heavy clouds and dark, and heavy rain! I tried to snap the white pelicans sitting in the rain, by cranking up to ISO800 - but the low light and rain killed any chance at detail:
Making the big turn onto the savannah view, I had to stick with ISO800 and try to shoot through grey-out conditions and heavy rain - the herd animals were herding together under the trees:
By the time we made the giraffes, the skies had opened up fully. This giraffe was fully aware that the ranger was standing nearby, waiting for the last trucks to pass so they could herd the tall beast in for the night, and out of the rain:
All the animals looked very unhappy with the rain...except the elephants, who seemed to be having a grand 'ol time - they had gotten in the water for a swim and some play in the rain:
At the end of the ride, we were caught in traffic waiting for the trucks in front to unload (longer than usual, because as people unloaded from the trucks they didn't want to leave the shelter of the hut and walk out into the rain and lightning!). I wanted to snap a pic of the workers by the other truck unloading platform through the rain, and as usual with Disney employees...when they saw the camera pointing their way, they immediately posed:
Well, they were certainly some of the worst shots I've ever taken on the Kilimanjaro - or in Animal Kingdom in general! But it was a very fun ride, and a fun story to be able to tell...so in the end, I don't mind that the pictures aren't that great. They will always make me remember that day and that ride in an open-sided metal truck through an open field in a raging electrical storm and downpour!
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IS) within the continental United States) "dark rides" that either load uncovered or go out into the air for some portion of the ride? (a la Alice in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh, and I guess IASW, but it's a boat. Disneyland's trains don't count - it's only dark for the last part) While Splash Mountain is partially dark, it's more of a thrill ride. And it would be ironic to shut it down in the rain. Tower of Terror doesn't count either. Backlot tour isn't a dark ride.